Beautiful concert featuring Jesse Freedman at Sierra Madre Music

What a wonderful inaugural event at Sierra Madre Music last night! Jesse Freedman captivated the audience with his incredible musicianship! Thanks to Jesse for making our first concert of our new series "After Hours" so special!
Here are few photos of the event!

Warming up:

Table of goodies :)

Full house at "Sierra Madre Music"

 

Sierra Madre Music: Grand Opening this Saturday!

Hello Friends,

We would like to announce some very exciting news....Jessica and I are opening a Music Boutique in the picturesque town of Sierra Madre, CA, just east of Pasadena.

We are thrilled to carry Kenny Hill Guitars and many other fine products.  In addition, we offer private and group lessons taught by accomplished faculty in all instruments including:  Guitar, Flute, Piano, Voice, Drums, Sax, Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Ukulele!

YOU ARE INVITED.....

OPEN HOUSE & GRAND OPENING

Saturday, September 8th

10am-5pm

Live Music....Food....Special Offers....FUN!

Sierra Madre Music

280 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

(626) 316-7017

www.sierramadremusic.net

Zapjevala Sojka Ptica by AlmaNova Duo

La Crescenta Library: FREE CONCERT, Friday, July 20th

Please join us for this FREE CONCERT EVENT!

DETAILS:

AlmaNova in Concert

Friday, July 20th

6:30pm

FREE ADMISSION

La Crescenta Library

4521 La Crescenta Ave.

La Crescenta, CA 91214

(818) 248-5313

AlmaNova CD's: SUMMER SALE!

Enjoy the summer even more with the music of AlmaNova........

 Dear Fans....

We would like to make a very special offer to you this summer. 

We are now offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!  With any purchase of one of our CD's through our website, you will get a second one of your choice for free!

To take advantage of this offer, CLICK HERE and click ADD TO CART.

If you do not have a PayPal account, you can send us an email with your order at: almanovaduo@gmail.com. 

This offer will be valid July 14, 2012-August 14, 2012.  Please indicate which CD you would like for FREE in the notes section of PayPal.

"DEBUT"

"CLASSIC GIULIANI"

"AFTER HOURS"

"JOURNEY"

"STANI DRAGA"

 

NEW CD: Journey for Flute and Guitar

We are so excited about this new album!  We hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed making it!

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!!!

From our website, CLICK HERE

iTunes, CLICK HERE

Amazon, CLICK HERE

Google Music, CLICK HERE

CDBaby, CLICK HERE

ABOUT THE ALBUM:

Journey for Flute and Guitar has been a very exciting project for us and we are very happy to share this album with you.  It features some of the greatest works ever written for the flute and guitar duo and some new pieces by Almer! 

Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango is probably the most beloved work for flute and guitar.  As one of the most recognizable composer of the 20^th century, he infuses Argentine Tango with his love of jazz.  Piazzolla was a great bandleader and played the bandèon.  His compositions embody the feel, energy and rhythmic intensity of a great band making it so much fun to perform. 

One of our dear friends, the great Maestro Pepe Romero, gave us the piece Suite Andaluza.  He told us it was the last piece his father composed and was never published or recorded.  Celedonio Romero was a guitarist, composer and poet, perhaps best known as the founder of Los Romeros Guitar Quartet.  We are extremely honored to have this work on this album.  It was a truly special gift from a very special friend and mentor.

Manuel de Falla has always been a favorite composer of ours and we fell in love with his Sietes Canciones Espagnoles and La Vida Brevé about two years ago in Chicago when we played arrangements of them with a flamenco group.  We immediately knew we had to include them on this album.  Each short piece sends such a strong emotional message to the listener even without hearing the text. The first two songs, El Pano Moruno and Seguidilla Murciana are from the Murcia region in Southeast Spain. A seguidilla is a moderately fast dance of Southern Spain. The sad and melancholic Asturiana, is from the Asturias region of Northern Spain, while in contrast, the lively fourth song Jota, typifies the music of the Aragon Region of Northeastern Spain. The jota is a rapid dance in triple time performed by one or more couples and accompanied by castanets. Nana, is a traditional lullaby and was sung to de Falla as an infant by his mother. The sixth song, Cancion, is based on a melody known throughout Spain, while the seventh song, Polo, comes from Andalusia and evokes flamenco music of the Andalusian gypsies. 

Almer has fond memories of performing La Vida Brevé with his dear friend and fellow guitarist, Owen, during their time at USC.  He loved the piece so much, that he decided to create this arrangement for flute and guitar.  Adding the flute gives the melody longer lines, emphasizing its song-like character.

Manuel de Falla often spoke about being impressed with French composers of the time who wrote in the Spanish style. Jacques Ibert and Maurice Ravel would surely have been mentioned!  Both of these works capture the allure and beauty of the Spanish folksong, particularly the canto jondo, or deep song, from the flamenco repertoire.

Zapjevala Sojka Ptica is a traditional Bosnian Sevdalinka.  These songs sing mainly of love, but usually there is always an eternal conflict.  The words to this delightful tune are actually a little bit depressing….young Fata is awaken at dawn by a Nightingale only to find out her mother has married her without her knowledge!  Hearing these words, one can appreciate just how old these beautiful songs are, yet they are treasured by the Bosnian population and are a great source of cultural pride.  Almer’s arrangement adds a guitar solo and a B-section, where the flute evokes the morning calls of the Nightingale!

Kay’s Dream is a song for our dear friend, Kay Younger, who courageously fought breast cancer…and won! The running notes in the guitar represent her relentless courage and willful spirit while the long melodic lines in the flute reminds us of her message of love and compassion.

Finally, the title track, Journey, is a song that has a very special place in our hearts.  It was written for my mother, Kristy Pierce, who passed away this year.  She was undoubtedly our biggest fan and supported us in our journey as artists and as husband and wife. Her journey here on earth ended far too soon, but we know that she continues to help us along our path.  We dedicate this album to her, with all our love.

  

TRACK LIST

Entr'acte by Jacques Ibert

Piece en forme de Habanera by Maurice Ravel

Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla

Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas by Manuel de Falla

La Vida Breve by Manuel de Falla

Suite Andaluza, no. 2 by Celedonio Romero

 Zapjevala Sojka Ptica by Almer Imamovic

Kay's Dream by Almer Imamovic

Journey by Almer Imamovic

Special thanks:

Jim Linahon/LMP Studios: Recording/Mixing /Mastering

Suki Medencevic: Photography

Allen Battino: Graphic Design

 

ALMER IMAMOVIC "STANI DRAGA" LYRICS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

The HIGHLY anticipated album, "Stani Draga" is finally available for purchase!

Many of you know the wonderful composing and strumming talents of Maestro Almer, but did you know he is a great singer as well???  This album was inspired by the film written and directed by Angelina Jolie, "In the Land of Blood and Honey".  Almer was fortunate enough to have one of his original rock songs included in the film and soundtrack.  One of the producers had expressed to Almer that Ms. Jolie herself said how much she loved his voice....the rest is history!

Please purchase your copy of Almer's debut rock album today!  Your support of this project is greatly appreciated!

Here are the links:


PayPal/AlmaNova website

iTunes

Google Play

Amazon

CDBaby

ABOUT STANI DRAGA

This is a highly personal and almost biographical project in which Imamovic shares some important moments in his life as an artist and a refugee.

1. AMERIKA:  A rock-inspired tribute to Almer 's newly adopted homeland.  He sings of his new adventure and quest to find peace of mind and happiness in a new country.  The guitar licks pay tribute to some of the greatest legends in American rock and roll......Jimi Hendricks and Stevie Ray Vaughn!

Years of no luck
Will I find true love?
Why should sadness be my fate?

I need someone to love me
My heart that hurts
Dear God, please hear me!

I'm done with sorrow and pain
And a life alone
I'm going to America!


New country, new love
New dreams, new memories
America, the land of love


Suitcases are all packed
Leaving my hometown
On a plane to California


The palm trees sway
I breathe a little easier
Dear God, thank you for hearing me!


2. SRETNA PJESMA:  a fun, upbeat pop tune that will surely get you in the mood for summer! As a young adult, Almer would spend his summers with his friends along the beautiful coast of Croatia.  This song evokes those great memories of a time where there was nothing better to do than grab a guitar and sing until dawn!

Here's a happy song just for you
I know you usually like the ones that are more melancholy
But here in the  south we are happier
The sun's much warmer

Put a smile on your face
I love to see how beautiful you are when happy
Music from guitars, the night sounds vibrant
Slowly we walk

Sing it baby, sing until the dawn
Sing with me baby, let's go to the sea! 

This song I sing to you this guitar I play
Every note I wrote says I love you this way
We've been 5 years together , what can I say
I feel happy, happy today!

Heaven knows I'm a good guy
Singer, cool dude, a legend!
I just want to live my life
I just need some luck and a small boat!


3. DRINA:  Drina, the river that flows through the Eastern part of Bosnia was once the home of many Bosnian refugees.  After the war in the 1990's, many of the cities along this majestic river's Bosnian population fled or were killed.  Almer's hometown of Foca was one of these cities.

Each step is heavy 
The hour is late
My brother is waiting for me in the dark at the platform

The streets are empty, 
the darkness is killing us
Severity of silence pollutes the air


Walking so slowly
Like the first day school
We sail softly into her living waters...


Drina, she calls me.....
"Return my son,
come see the depth of my blue water
It's been a long time since you've swam with us,
remember those days of your youth, by me side".


What does it mean to be truly lucky?
Do I have it?
Is it measured in money or by the soundness of your sleep?

Looking to the past, 
The wise one and I,
I see the beauty in her eyes

Drina, she calls me.....
"Return my son,
come see the depth of my blue water
It's been a long time since you've swam with us,
remember those days of your youth, by my side".



4. STANI DRAGA:  the track from the film!

You're no longer by my side
You left without reason
I was always faithful
Never untrue
I still love you like before
My heart still searches for you

We had one year of love
Full of happiness and joy
Our friends were at our wedding
Gypsies sang songs for us
But you...you....


Stay....
please come back
When you left, my dreams went with you


We dreamed the same dreams
Built our house of love
I was always faithful
Never untrue
I still love you like before
My heart still searches for you


5. MOJ GOLUBE:  an instrumental version of one of the most beautiful Bosnian love songs, Sevdalinka.


6. 6AM:  Almer really did write this song at 6am...he said he heard the entire song in a dream.  Must have stayed up late watch the CMA's!!!!  :)
 A few quotes from the lyrics...this one is a bit hard to translate!

" I play the notes as if they were my last words..."

"Goodbye blue rhapsody!"

"It's 6am in the morning...wake up!...take your coffee...I still love you!"

"I am ready to love you madly...with all my heart...play a cardas and let's go!"


7. PARIS: many of you know Almer and I met in Paris, the city of lights!  This is a song about us!!!


Love comes to the city of lights
Like the stillness that enters my heart...to stay


Love comes in the city of joy
I stand at her door, suitcase in my hand
filled with beautiful gifts


Here in the city of dreams
Learning form the school of life
Our love grows 
In the city of lights


Love leaves...summer begins
Staring into eachother eyes....it's difficult...I love you


Love leaves the city of lights
I stand at her door, suitcase in my hand
filled with beautiful memories


8.  LULLABY FOR DINO:  instrumental for little baby Dino, who belongs to our dear friend's Suki and Catalina.  At the moment of his birth he represents to us the new generation of Bosnian youth...their lives filled with endless possibilities and hope for a better future.


9. SLOBODA:  "Freedom"....the freedom that came, but came too late.  Almer's account of when the end of the war came to Gorazde.

Gloomy skies, empty hours
The coffee is cold, you're still asleep
In the afternoon, where silence reigns,
I hear something new...happy voices...
Freedom comes

An armored vehicle
Blue helmets and boots follow
My country, my city, my friends 
They want a life...full of love
Freedom comes


Freedom is coming, I know
I believe in happier times
Take my hand, lead me
The time has come for change


We move forward without hesitation
To build a life based on understanding
My country, my city, my friends 
They want a life...full of love
Freedom comes 


10. KAFANA:  an AlmaNova original, with a jazzy twist!



11. FROM THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY:  dedicated to Angelina, who made this all happen!  Inspired by her brave and beautiful film.


12. HAPPY SONG (WEDDING SONG):  the track in English!  Cute lyrics about a wedding proposal!


Hey Baby summer’s here I’ve got a song for you
The sun is shinning come enjoy the view
I know you love me but if you only knew
That I love you
I love you, too


Let’s sing together while the sun’s still hot
I’ll play the chords with this guitar I got
Wait a minute…on second thought
Let’s tie the knot!
At this vacation spot


Sing it Baby, sing it all day long
Sing it Baby, sing this Happy Song!


This song I sing to you, this guitar I play
Every note I wrote says I love you this way
We’ve been 5 years together, what can I say
I feel happy
Happy today


Just us together this is where we belong
Our voices harmonize while I strum along
Feeling happy, it can’t be wrong
Come sing this song
Baby, all night long


The sun is setting, it’s about to get cold
Summer’s over, our future untold
Hand in hand, rings of gold
Forever…
To have and to hold


Sing it Baby, sing it all day long
Sing it Baby, sing our Wedding Song!


This song I sing to you, this guitar I play
Every note I wrote says I love you this way
We’ve been 5 years together, what can I say
We just got married
We’re happy today!

South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival

Please join us this weekend in South Pasadena for their annual Eclectic Music Festival!!!!  AlmaNova will be performing at the South Pasadena Library Community Room.  See you there!

Details:

South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival

AlmaNova

Saturday, May 5th

@

6:15pm

South Pasadena Library Community Room

1100 Oxley Street  

South Pasadena, CA 91030

Almer Imamovic Stani Draga

Gala concert "4th Days of BHAAAS in BiH 2012" Friday, April 20, 2012 at 8pm DOM ARMIJE, Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina

Laguna Beach Live! Sunday, April 1st

AlmaNova DuoLaguna Beach Live!
Sunday, April 1st, 2012
3:00pm
FREE ADMISSION
Laguna College of Art and Design
2222 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-376-6000

ALBUM RELEASE: Almer Imamovic "Stani Draga"

We are pleased and excited to announce the release of Almer's new album entitled "STANI DRAGA". This project has been a labor of love over the past 9 months. It features the title track song, "Stani Draga" from the film In the Land of Blood and Honey (written/directed by Angelina Jolie) as well as 10 other original songs all written by Almer.

It is now available for download through:

iTunes
Amazon
Google Music
CD Baby

You can also pre-order the CD (to be released in the Spring) through our website: CLICK HERE!

The album was recorded in Claremont, CA at LMP Studios with Jim Linahon.

Almer's Band:

Almer Imamovic, lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Bob Dominguez, drums
Arnold Jacks, bass

Almer's Story Behind the Music:

If there’s one thing certain about the music industry, it’s that one never knows what he/she will be doing next! I experienced this first hand in 2011. In April, I was invited by a friend of mine who is in the film industry in Los Angeles to take part in an ADR session for the movie “In the Land of Blood and Honey”, produced, written and directed by Hollywood’s leading A-list star, Angelina Jolie. Because this is a movie about Bosnia and the war in the 1990’s, they needed native speakers to record some additional background dialogue. The session was truly a unique experience, one that I have never imagined doing! In fact, I almost decided not to attend for the simple reason that I am not an actor. Thankfully, my friends convinced me otherwise.

After two long days of recording shouts and screams, I had a great talk with the producer, Andrea. She was impressed with my “work” and suggested I venture into doing more of it in the future. Not to be outdone, my good friends Suki and Igor protested: “But he’s a great musician, guitarist and composer as well!” Having heard this, the producer mentioned that they actually needed a song for a particular scene in the movie. She asked me to present her with some original material and promised to give it a good listen, hoping that it just might fit their needs. I could not believe my fortune! Most musicians dream about their songs being included in any feature film…let alone one with that has anything to do with a star of galactic proportions, Angelina Jolie! This was my moment and I was not going to blow it!

So, I went home and got to work. I typically play classical music inspired by the Balkans, Bosnia in particular, written for flute and guitar. Within hours, I sent Andrea a few of my new “signature” tracks with the hopes that they would strike a chord, so to speak. She responded politely saying that she loved my music, but for the movie they actually needed something else, a “1990’s Yugo rock song”.

Well, I thought, I could certainly do that—I grew up with such music. Down deep in my soul I was actually a rock ‘n’ roll dude! So, I got back to work and in about 5 minutes (I know you will not believe me) I had a hook, a chorus, verses and lyrics that I thought were pretty cool. I immediately sent to Andrea a rough demo of just my own voice and acoustic guitar and patiently waited for her reply. Within minutes, Andrea wrote back saying that she loved the song, but she also cautioned me that she needed the final OK from Angelina herself. She promised to get back to me in the morning.

As you can imagine, I had a hard time finding any sleep that night. I was hoping for the best, but I was fully prepared for the worst. Afterall, this was something of a long shot anyway!

Bright and early at 8am I got the email I will remember forever: “Angelina loved the song.” I was ecstatic. I kept shouting to myself: “Angelina loved my song. Angelina loved my song. Angelina …” I was at the top of the world. I could not believe it. Is this for real. Am I dreaming?

But wait, there was more…she especially loved my VOICE!!!! WHAT!!!???!!!! I’m not a singer! WOW, the most beautiful woman in the world loves my voice! Now, I was at the Moon. I felt special! Excited! Who wouldn’t.

Not wasting a minute, I got my studio engineer, Jim Linahon at LMP, on board, hired my bassist, Ben, and drummer, Bob, and recorded “Stani Draga” the next day. The producers were pleased with our version and decided it that should be included on the official “in the Land of Blood and Honey” soundtrack alongside U2 and Pavarotti! Please forgive me, but I must say it again: WOW!!!!

The film has since been released and I could not be happier to have been a small part of this monumental film about Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am very proud of Angelina to have written and directed this brave film, as I was impressed with her research. I spent four of my forming years in Bosnia during the war, and I could identify with many of her characters, the scenes, and the sentiment Angelina achieved conveying what it felt like to be there during such a horrific time.

This opportunity awoke something else inside of me that I have been ignoring for most of my life in Los Angeles: my heart is still in rock and roll music. While it is true that I love the classical idiom, my love for the sound of a band is far greater. The recording sessions went so well that we all decided that we should continue working on a whole album.

Ever since that fateful email in mid-April, I have been writing lyrics, strumming chords on my PRS, and fooling around with rhythm machines, all this in order to complete a project that only a year ago was but a distant dream. Thanks to my friends, producer Andrea, and Angelina, I have taken a detour along my musical path, and I am very excited about the possibilities it may lead to.

AlmaNova at MoodMixes.com

Dear Friends,

Are you a business owner and would like to hear AlmaNova and other similar artists in your place of work? Well, now it's possible thanks to MoodMixes.com and Magnatune. Our music will be featured on their unique playlists that offer a wide range of styles perfectly suited for any business venue. At moodmixes.com, you can find the ideal background music for your restaurant and bar, and music for retail and in-store music. Please check them out!

moodmixes.com

Wounded I Am More Awake: Finding Meaning After Terror-new book by Julia Lieblich and Esad Boskailo

Wounded I Am More Awake: Finding Meaning After Terror
new book by Julia Lieblich and my friend Esad Boskailo

It is my pleasure to let you know about a great new book written by my good friend Dr. Esad Boskailo and journalist Julia Lieblich, Wounded I Am More Awake: Finding Meaning After Terror.

The book, published by Vanderbilt University Press, talks about the year Dr. Boskailo spent in six concentration camps in Bosnia, his decision to become a psychiatrist and his work with survivors of trauma.

If you would like, you can pre-order the book on Amazon.com

Here is the link for the article about the book published in La Times on March 21,2012
*La Times article click here!

TOMORROW NIGHT!!!! AlmaNova featured on "The Sound"...come support local bands!

The Sound is back for the month of February on Saturday, the 18th! There's something for everyone on a bill featuring several artists with different sounds. Opening will be our own faculty, Jessica Pierce, with former faculty, Almer Imamovic, as the AlmaNova Duo. The rest of the night will feature performances by MJ, Nightlight Shadows, and Son Ark.

Saturday, Feb 18. 8:00.
Doors: $10.
SPMCC Students: FREE

Preview these artists at their websites:
AlmaNova Duo: www.almanova.us
Son Ark: www.facebook.com/sonarksonarksonark
Nightlight Shadows: www.facebook.com/shadowsnightlight
MJ: www.facebook.com/pages/Major-Myjah/210401812313880


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South Pasadena Music Center & Conservatory
1509 Mission St.
South Pasadena, CA 91030
626-403-2300